Boom—!
Destroying the wooden door, a beast entered the store. His body was grayish and swollen, it looked like a human who had been mutated beyond limits and turned into a creature of the beyond.
It was one of the monsters, a beast that had escaped the pits it was trapped in after the thunder spears had destroyed the seals trapping them.
The reasons behind it were unknown but unfortunately, the people of this city would suffer from the wrath of monsters— No, former humans.
Who had been done wrong?
Even if their humanity has been stripped away and no semblance of sanity is left in them.
— The emotions of rage and despair still exist in them, all of them. After all,they are beings of desire, they all have elements of life inside them.
But currently, none of that mattered, they all moved, with the rage of despair and pain. The gangs have already run away, their jobs done. They have lost their place in this city.
"Stay behind—!"
A man shouted, behind him were two women, his wife and daughter. They both shivered as they saw the man holding a stick and facing the beast.
It was an impossible fight, death was certain.
The beast will first kill her father, then tear them apart limb by limb until no life is left in them— Her eyes watered at such thoughts.
Her black hair tied back came forward, wrapped around in her mother's embrace, as she held her tightly. Her yellow eyes looked at the monster again with great courage. Her father continued to throw the stick forward again and again.
But it was not working— It only slowed down the beast as it was busy, destroying their house. The one they had built after so much struggle.
For her family, she was ready to even get used by that disgusting human– The awakened that took her out on that dreadful night.
"Kyaaa—!" Her mother screamed as the beast swung its massive arm, throwing her father to the other side.
There was no struggle, this was inevitable.
How can a mundane human, ever fight a beast and win? This was nothing but a fairytale.
"Grhhh–!" The beast's screech filled the small room, it took a step forward.
Her mother gathered her courage and came forward and whispered in a low voice.
"...E–Elena, run.. run when the monster attacks me."
Her voice stuttered, Elena had never seen her mother like this. Even when Elena was taken by the awakened her mother's eyes looked dead, rather than full of hope.
Maybe she had hopes that her sacrifice could save her daughter, Elena would have argued back and struggled but fear has taken over her as well.
She had no strength in her legs to run, but she didn't wish to kill her mother's hope.
So Elena slowly nodded, that she would do as her mother said.
It was a painful lie.
Her father's painful groan filled her ears as she closed her eyes.
Waiting for the beast to come.
Creak—!
Creak—!
The beast's massive steps on the wooden floor filled the room, a rotten smell entered her nostrils making her want to puke. Her mother continued to stand in front of her. Her legs shivered with fear but she didn't run.
'Ah, I wanted to thank him... to Reaper for saving me. To tell how grateful I truly was to him.' Elena had a wishful thinking, that maybe— he will come again.
To save her—
"Kyaa–!"
Her mother screamed as the beast opened its jaw, a twisted smile on its ugly face.
But it never moved, a black blade pierced it from behind. Tearing through its heart as it came into view. The blade shone with a purple glint in its Sharpened edge, then it was pulled back.
Blood sprayed on her mother's face, as she lost her balance and fell on Elena's embrace.
Her face was pale and shocked, and her lips trembled as she looked at him— A man with a white faceless mask over his face, body hidden beneath a black cloak.
—It was Reaper, he had arrived.
"You... You came."
Without even knowing, Elena's lips had parted themselves and spoken to the man she had wished to see one last time.
Thud—!
The beast fell as the sword finally retracted and rested on his belt.
He looked tired, his breathing was heavy. Maybe the man she looked up to was also a human. He must have come here while fighting many threats to save them.
He turned his head away from them and slightly moved his mask upward. Taking a small bottle out, he drank it.
Elena couldn't see her savior's face, but she saw something, a small and almost instantaneous glance.
His silver eyes— They moved and looked at her. Making her heart race like never before.
*****
Looking at the destroyed store my mind raced.
If I had been a little bit late, a family would have been wiped out.
Even if I had not been at fault, guilt would have remained in my heart. That maybe if I had been faster if I had been stronger.
None of this would have ever happened.
I looked at the pair of mother and daughter, both were trembling as they lay on the ground leaning against the wall of the room.
The girl had said something, but I sadly couldn't focus clearly at that time.
"Are you both okay?" I asked, my voice gruff from the exertion of the fight. But the potion had done its work making me feel better.
The mother looked up at me with wide eyes, still gripping her daughter tightly. She nodded, though the tremble in her chin betrayed her fear.
"Father!"
The daughter finally out of her daze looked, and ran toward the man at another corner of the room.
He was injured but not in any life-threatening condition.
The purple bruises on his face and the blood staining his clothes told the tale of his valor.
"...Are you leaving?" The young girl asked, I looked at her yellow eyes.
She was small, with a delicate build. She was probably no more than sixteen or seventeen.
But she was brave, I thought. More than me.
"Yes," I answered simply, giving no other reason or reassurance.
Her eyes looked tired as she gulped before nodding, her mouth opened with hesitation as she said.
"...Thank you.— For everything."
Hearing her words, I smiled behind the mask as a tingling sensation filled my face at the worst time.
The mask was trying to eat my face once again, but I rejected it– Adding another mental strain on me.
'I hate this mask.' I thought to myself but nodded to the young girl.
As I walked away a voice called me from behind, as she shouted.
"Take care—!"
It's been a while since I heard such words from someone.
This feeling was not bad, of being acknowledged, I mean.